Chellie Pingree: “Last week I introduced legislation to make sure that BP pays royalties on all of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon…”

“Last week I introduced legislation to make sure that BP pays royalties on all of the oil from the Deepwater Horizon disaster. The Spilled Oil Royalty Collection Act, H.R. 5513, will ensure that BP pays royalties on every gallon of oil spilled without the administration having to determine whether BP was negligent or violating MMS regulations. Royalties on oil drilled at offshore locations are paid to the Minerals Management Service, MMS, in an effort to compensate taxpayers for the use of publicly owned resources. Under current regulations, leaseholders like BP are only obligated to pay royalties on gallons of oil sold. This legislation is part of responding to the disaster in the gulf and holding BP accountable. We need to clean up and repair the gulf, holding BP accountable for its oil spill, enact stronger environmental, technological and spill response standards, and invest in an American clean-energy future. BP CEO was on television saying that his company will 'make it right,' but we should have more than just a television commercial to go on. We need the force of law to make sure they pay every penny they owe to us. I hope you will join me in supporting this important piece of legislation.”